What amps use KT88 tubes?

KT88 tubes are currently made by New Sensor, JJ and Shuguang. Marshall used them in their 200 watt Marshall Major amps. KT88’s were also used in Hiwatt Custom 200 and 400 bass amps. They can be used as a substitute for 6550 or even EL34 tubes, if you’re looking for tighter, cleaner tone with less distortion.

Can you build your own tube amp?

The answer is that building a hand-wired tube amp is within the reach of most players. Building an amp can not only be a fun project, but a good way of learning about electronics, how amps work, and also how to service other valve amps you might already own.

What is the best KT88 tube?

The Tung-Sol was voted the best 6550. The Genalex was voted the best KT88 and the best tube in the shoot out. The Ei KT90 was voted the Best Value – it was liked by all reviewers. The JJ KT88 was voted the best new KT88 and also a KT88 best buy.

Do tube amps need ventilation?

The best way to keep an amp from overheating, if it needs it, is to enhance the natural airflow of the cabinet. Many amps have a vent of some sort at the top or back, so heat can dissipate up and out.

How do I choose amp tubes?

For those just looking for a new set of tubes to get your amp back up and running, look into the tubes the amp came with and start from there. If you want the same sound, get the same or very similar tubes. If you want to experiment, try other brands or styles of the same type of tube.

What’s the difference between a tube amp and a regular amp?

The physical difference between a solid-state amp and a tube amp is that a solid-state machine derives amplification from electronic transistors, while a tube amp uses vacuum tubes (also known as valves). Solid-state amps are great for players who want maximum headroom (a.k.a a loud, clean, undistorted signal).

Are tube amps better?

Tube amplifiers sound better because of the euphonic distortions they add to the music, as well as plenty of other reasons I’ll cover below. We use tubes simply because they make the music we create sound better: smoother, warmer and cleaner. Ditto for guitar amplifiers used in creating music.

How long do KT88 tubes last?

Genelex reissue tubes don’t last long. For the KT88 and depending on batch and how hard it is driven in the amplifier you should get around 2500hrs. Old English MO-V made KT88 last up to 6000 hrs or more.

Are KT88 and 6550 tubes the same?

6550, KT88’s, and KT90 are interchangeable. The 6550 originated in the US and the KT88 is the European answer to the 6550. Its called “One-up-man-ship”.

How much ventilation does an amp need?

Although there’s no definitive specification, we recommend a minimum of 5 inches of ventilation space on top and 2 inches on either side of the receiver/amplifier to reduce the risk of the amplifier overheating and tripping the Protection Circuit when playing at moderate to high volume output levels.

Does it matter what tubes you put in your amp?

These tubes are largely the same, but feature different gain factors, so you can use them to custom-tailor the response and tone of your amp. Different tubes can noticeably change the tone of an amp, so it can be worthwhile to experiment with various tubes to find the ones that your amp “likes” the best.

What are the different types of KT88 tube amplifiers?

Group “A” consists of KT77, 6CA7, EL34, 6L6GC and similar variants. Group “B” consists of KT88, KT90, 6550 and their variants. The difference is in both the bias voltages and maximum power dissipations.

How many Watts Does A KT88 push pull amplifier handle?

The CCS needs to be heat sinked as it has to handle up to 8 watts of dissipation (when using KT88 at 180ma – less for other tubes and currents). Now for some magic, if you use a fixed 10 ohm resistor in the CCS for a basic setting it will result in close to 62 mA per tube.

Can a 6L6 be swapped with a KT88?

Maybe due to the SE operation. You can swap the KT88 output tubes with 6L6, or EL34 / 6CA7. The 6N1P driver tube can be swapped with a 6DJ8 / ECC88 / E88CC. I have tried Siemens EL34 and new production tubes JJ EL34 and Electro-Harmonix EL34EH.

What kind of push pull tube amplifier do I Need?

This Class-A Push-Pull Tube Power Amplifier uses a Pair of Push-Pull Class A, Ultra Linear Mono Block Tube Amplifiers that can be used with several different vacuum tubes including KT77 / 6L6GC / KT88 with a 12SL7 driver and 6NO30 tubes. The amplifier stage is based on the Compact Hi-Fi Power Amplifier.